I’m excited to introduce a new method of announcing your baby’s arrival: Video Birth Announcements! What a great and unique way to quickly share the love with your friends and family. Printed Birth Announcements require a lot of time, energy and postage to mail out – this is a fabulous time-saving option or a great addition to the traditional birth announcements. Each Baby’s 1st Year Collection client will receive their very own Video Birth Announcement as a bonus item. Hmm, I wonder if these can also work in lieu of Holiday Cards?! I love finding new ways to delight my clients – enjoy!

After months of wishing I could just figure out an easy way to blog my latest sessions (I really can’t stand adding one image at a time), I think I’ve found the solution: I will post the same (or slightly-edited) slideshows that I present my clients. Most will have approximately 25 images but once I get my systems in place, I’ll try to get the ones I post down to less than 2 minute videos.

Presenting: Baby J and his family photographed in Central Park NYC. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and we managed to find several secluded locations within the park to complete this session. These baby cheeks are sure to make you smile. Enjoy!

I knew the moment I finished photographing this session that it would become one of my favorites. Emily is such a sweet mom, so gentle and calming. Her little daughter is very lucky to be surrounded by so much love.

So sorry to have waited so long to post this session but things, fortunately, have been very busy around here! I couldn’t be happier to have met this family…they are such loving people and our 2 year old sons are definitely besties! I can’t wait to watch their little ones grow up and will follow them on all their adventures. Congratulations on your *newest* addition – she is a doll. Love you guys!

To view the entire Newborn Session, click here. If you like what you see, please “Like” my Facebook page!

Local grocery store out of water Saturday AM – 2 days before Sandy makes landfall.

I have to admit, I’ve never been so anxious because of a storm. No, it didn’t help that the news was very dramatic. But something told me that this time, they believed what they were saying and really wanted us to listen. (I guess that’s the problem with sensationalism…it’s hard to know when to take it seriously.) They also predicted a direct hit with Philadelphia. So we took all the necessary precautions: bought non-perishable food; filled ziplock bags with filtered water and stuck them in the freezer for many varied uses if needed; removed any outdoor objects/furniture that could cause damage in gusting winds; and did all the laundry, dishes and baking we’d need for a week. I had to do something with my nervous energy.

Sandy came and went. We woke up this morning in a dry home, with power and all of our things intact. We were the lucky ones.

Here’s what I can’t get over. I’ve already heard/read several times today, comments from people (real people, not television speak) saying that the hurricane “wasn’t that bad”…And the only thing I can think is “It wasn’t that bad for you“. I try to keep my blog posts as upbeat and positive as possible. First, people have their own issues and don’t need to be burdened with mine. Second, life is too short to focus on the negative. But I can’t help but be tremendously irritated with anyone who, for whatever reason, wishes they had personally dealt with a more violent and damaging storm and are disappointed with their own experience.

So out of respect for the mothers and babies who were evacuated and carried down 9 flights of stairs from NYU Langone’s NICU (the hospital where less than 2 years ago, Elliott was born); for those who have lost their belongings and homes; and for the several people, including children, who lost their lives because of falling trees, please remember that it did get that bad…just not for you.

As a small but meaningful gesture, Carolyn Clement Photography will be donating 10% of all sales through December 31st, 2012 to the American Red Cross.

Remember Little Man C’s session just a couple months ago? Well I’m proud to present his little sister, Baby K. With a toddler, a newborn and a feisty chocolate lab, there is no shortage of love and energy in their home!

She was so alert on the day of our shoot, eager to take everything in.

Congratulations to this beautiful family, may you get some rest and enjoy the ride.

I have to make this brief but I really wanted to share these…I love discovering a new place where Elliott can run around and I don’t need to constantly tell him “no” – Don’t Touch, Get Down…The Morris Arboretum is perfect for us; this place is HUGE.

We spent at least 3 hours just wandering from one exhibit to the next which included The Rose Garden, Out on a Limb and the Garden Railway . Only a couple days later, we returned once more for the Third Thursdays where Eli was able to participate in his very first game of musical chairs.

It’s no secret that Elliott loves trains and now every time he hears me mention the word park he’s convinced we’re going back to the Arboretum to visit his pals Thomas and all the other wonderful toy trains…

Let’s just say that he didn’t want to leave…Don’t worry buddy, we’ll be back soon!